Backing sheet for manifold copies



July 17, 1951 E. PHILLIPS BACKING SHEET FOR MANIFOLD COPIES jled July 5,1947 lT'win j hiilipf INVENTOR.

BY QvWW A TTORNEY.

Patented July 17, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BACKING SHEET FORMANIFOLD COPIES Erwin Phillips, New York, N. Y., assignor of twofifthsto Albert Abraham, Jr., Oakwood, N. Y.

Application July 5, 1947, Serial No. 759,084

Claims. 1

The present invention relates to a backing sheet for use in typingmanifold copies. More particularly, it relates to such a backing sheetadapted to receive and hold a plurality of sheets of typewriter carbonpaper in semi-permanent relation to the sheet and to each other, whilepermitting repeated insertions and removal of original and onionskin orother manifold copy sheets to be impressed with typed characters in theusual fashion.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a backing sheet whichwill not only fulfill the ordinary functions of such a device, but willalso provide a means whereby an assembled series of sheets may beinserted, removed, and reinserted in a typewriter at any time during thetyping operation without disturbing the relationship of the severalmanifold copies so as to result in misalignment of the typed lines.Also, by providing for secure retention of carbon sheets both during thetyping operation, and while removing and inserting sheets to be typed,the backing sheet according to this invention will result in substantialsavings by reducing damage to the carbon paper and facilitatingseparation of the typed sheets from their association with the carbonpaper. These and other objects and advantages of the backing sheetcontemplated will be readily apparent from the following descriptionwhen read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a backing sheet.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail section of a corner of a backing sheetshowing a modified form of construction.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section of a corner of another form ofbacking sheet.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional View, as along a line IV-IV of Fig.1, of a backing sheet having a flap portion according to Fig. 3, andwith manifold copy and carbon paper sheets assembled.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a backing sheet as shown in Fig. 3,showing the manifold copies partially withdrawn.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a modification of the device primarilyfor use as a carbon paper holder.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the backing sheet consistsof a main body or sheet portion I, having a lower edge la and an upperedge, an obverse surface S and a reverse surface, and a flap portion 2,of similar characteristics, which is joined to the reverse surface ofportion l by a hinge joint 2a along a line somewhat spaced from andparallel to the lower edge la of the sheet portion. Preferably thishinge joint 2a is spaced from the edge la by from one half inch to threequarters of an inch. As shown, particularly in Figs. 1 and 2, theportions I and 2 may be formed of one piece of stock, with the lower endof the sheet folded back and then forward to form a double reverse foldof which the first fold portion 3 is uniformly secured to the back ofthe sheet portion l, forming the edge l a, with the second fold formingthe hinge joint 2a and flap 2.

In the form of sheet illustrated by Fig. 3, the flap portion 2 is aseparate piece of stock joined to the back of the portion 1 as by astrip of a thin adhesive material, 22) folded to form the hinge joint 2afor the flap portion 2.

In either form of the sheet, the hinged flap portion 2 is provided witha series of substantially U-shaped incisions i, each defining a tongue5. These incisions should be so located with respect to the lower edgela of the sheet lthat the base or root of each tongue is in a lineintermediate the edge la and the lower end edge portion of the flap, andin spaced parallel relation thereto the tip extending into relativelyclosely spaced relation to the hinge joint 2a a distance greater thanthat between the root and the edge Ia. One or more similar tongues 5a,are provided adjacent the upper edge of the body portion 1 rooted in aline parallel to said edge.

In the form of construction illustrated b Fig. l, a modification ispossible, shown in Fig. 2, according to which segments conforming to theshape of tongue members 5, are removed from the lower end of the sheetportion only. The removal of such segments forms a plurality of pockets6 opening through the edge la and backed by the fold 3, into which thetongues 5 may fit.

The backing sheet as described is preferably formed of a material suchas moderately heavy cellulose acetate film, Celluloid, or other flexibleand resilient materials such as a treated paper. Flexibility of thesheet is essential in order to permit deformation in use to conform tothe circumference of a typewriter platen, and a resilient material isrequired in order that the tongue members 5 may exert a clamping actionagainst whatever may be inserted between them and body of the element inwhich they are formed.

In use of the backing sheet described, the hinged flap portion 2 isfolded back, and the desired number of carbon paper sheets C- are foldedover the lower edge la of the sheet portion I. The flap portion 2 isthen brought forward against the back of the sheet portion l, with thetongues 5 deformed so as to overlap the edge la and the folded carbonpaper sheets C. When this has been done, the manifold sheets M areinserted one by one between the carbon paper sheets, and the original orfirst sheet laid on top. In placing the manifold copy sheets, and thefirst sheet, the lower edges should be brought under the tongues 5 andengaged by their pressure against the carbon sheets and the lower edgeof body portion I. When thus assembled with the manifold sheets properlyaligned, the tongue members Be at the upper edge of the portion 1 aredeformed and brought into overlapping engagement with the upper edges ofthe manifolded sheets. Suitable indicia and related means may beimprinted or otherwise applied to the obverse surface of the sheet I toassist in alignment of the manifold copies, or to facilitate the typingoperation.

The completed assembly is illustrated by Fig. 4, and as thus shown theassembly of a backing sheet, carbon paper, and manifold copies may beinserted as an assembled unit in a typewriter or other similar machinein the customary fashion. An advantage is obtained by the use of thebacking sheet described in that the assembly is of such nature that itmay be repeatedly removed from and reinserted in a typewriter withoutdisturbing the interrelationship of the several elements, and therebysuch removal and reinsertion does not affect the uniformity and spacingof matter typed before or after removal and reinsertion. During thetyping operation, when using the described backing sheet, corrections oferrors may be made without disturbing the relationship of the elementsforming the assembled unit by merely releasing the upper ends of themanifold sheets from engagement by tongue or tongues a, whereupon thesheets and carbons may be turned back in the usual fashion, errorserased and the sheets returned to engagement by the tongue or tongues5a.

As shown in Fig. 5, when the typing operation has been completed, themanifold typewritten sheets M may be removed without disturbing theassociation of the carbon paper sheets C. The latter are retained intheir association with each other and with the backing sheet by means ofthe pressure of tongues 5.

It is also contemplated that the features of the backing sheet disclosedmay be adapted for use essentially as a carbon paper holder. In suchevent, as shown in Fig. 6, the body portion may be shortened to suchextent as to merely provide support for the hinged portion 2, and agripping surface for the tongues 5. For example, the body portion 1 maybe shortened to a dimension substantially equal to that of the portion 3shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and indicated by the dotted line lb designatingthe concealed edge of hinge portion 2a, and as similarly indicated inthe showing of Figs. 3 and 5. In such form the tongue portion 5a iseliminated, the carbon sheets being folded over the edge portion la andheld by the tongues 5, while the manifold sheets are held in positioneither by the tongues 5, or in the usual manner, by pressure of atypewriter platen. In all other respects, the elements of the devicewill be identical in form and function with those illustrated by Figs. 1to 5 inclusive. The principal advantage of such a modification is toprovide a convenient means for assembly and removal of carbon paper in amanifold set.

Although the invention has been illustrated and described in itspreferred embodiments, it is to be understood that it is not to beconsidered as limited by such disclosure for the purpose ofillustration, but only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A manifolding device, comprising a body member of a flexible,resilient, sheet material having upper and lower end edge portions, aflap of a similar material, a two leaf hinge joint between said flap andbody member laterally of said sheet, and disposed in parallel spacedrelations to the lower end edge portion of said body member, one leaf ofsaid hinge joint being secured to the reverse surface of said sheet, theother leaf, in cluding said flap, normally extending from said jointbeyond the lower end edge portion in parallel surface relation to thelead portion secured to the reverse surface of said sheet, and aplurality of tongue members rooted in said flap along a line in parallelspaced relation to said lower end edge portion, each tongue extendingtoward the hinge joint for a distance greater than that between saidline and said end edge portion, adapted for overlapping relation withsaid Portion.

2. A manifolding device according to claim 1, in which said flap portionis a separate element flexibly hinged to the reverse surface of the bodyportion along a line of flexure located in par allel, spaced relation tothe lower edge of said body portion.

3. A manifolding device according to claim 2, in which said flap is anintegral part of said sheet, comprising a double reverse fold thereof,of which the first fold forms the lower edge of said sheet, and one leafof said hinge joint, and is secured to the reverse surface of saidsheet, and the second fold forms said hinge joint the other leaf, andflap.

4. In a manifolding device according to claim 3, a plurality of shallowpockets in said sheet opening through said lower edge and backed by saidfirst fold, each pocket adapted to receive a corresponding tongueelement from said flap.

5. A manifolding device, comprising a sheet of a flexible, resilientmaterial, having obverse and reverse surface portions, and upper andlower end edge portions, a flap member of a similar material, havingsimilar surface and end edge portions, a two leaf hinge joint betweenthe upper edge portion of said flap and the reverse surface of saidsheet, laterally co-extensive with the sheet, and disposed in parallelspaced relation to the lower edge thereof, one leaf being secured to thereverse surface of said sheet and the other to said flap, the lower endedge portion of said flap normally extending beyond the sheet lower endedge into parallel, spaced relation therewith, with the leaves of saidhinge joint in parallel surface relation to each other, and a pluralityof spring tongue elements rooted along said flap in a line intermediatesaid flap and sheet lower end edge portions, and parallel thereto, eachtongue extending toward the hinge joint for a distance greater than thatbetween said line and the lower edge portion of said sheet, and adaptedfor overlapping relation thereto.

ERWIN' PHTLLIPS.

\ REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 960,488 Bond June 7, 19101,026,308 Gilbert May 14, 1912 1,999,015 Cooper Apr. 23, 1935 2,293,742Mathews Aug. 25, 1942 2,432,363 Wrigley Dec. 9, 1947 2,462,273 MetcalfFeb. 22, 1949 2,506,456 Jackson May 2, 1950

